R.I.P Pest Management

Sydney’s Best Pest Control

Narrabeen – Northern Beaches – North Shore

How to Get Rid of Termites?

Tracking Down an Infestation

1. Look for signs of an infestation. You may not see direct evidence of termite infestation, but that

doesn't mean you should remain ignorant of it. Sagging floors, holes in woodwork and hollow parts of your foundation are all serious warning signs of termites. You may actually see the termites themselves, as well.

• Take a screwdriver and flashlight with you toyour basement, and examine crawlspacesand foundation beams by tapping on thewood to check for hollowness and to pushthe screwdriver into the wood to test forstrength. If the wood gives easily and fallsapart, you may have a termite problem onyour hands.

• When performing this examination, also be sure tokeep an eye out for termite wastes. Termitedroppings are wood colored or darker brown pelletsof excrement. The presence of these droppings nearweakened wood could indicate an infestation

• You may also find a termite nest on your property; asubterranean termite infestation will build a systemof tunnels and tubes of mud, while a drywoodtermite infestation will present itself in a nest insidethe wood.

Determine the type of termites you have

There are two general types of termites that might infest your home: subterranean and drywood termites. The former are found in both the soil around your home and the wood of your home, while the latter thrive solely in

• Subterranean termites can be found in wood and compost piles around your home, in addition to the foundational wood.

• Subterranean termites typically do much more damage to a home than drywood, and may require different treatment methods.

Getting Rid of Termites Yourself

1. Set up a cardboard trap

Take a couple flat strips of cardboard, wet them, and stack them on one another in an area where termites are likely to be. Because termites feed on cellulose (cardboard), this makes for an excellent spot trap. When the cardboard is infested with termites, take it out in a safe area and burn it. Repeat multiple times, if necessary.

Note: This spot trap will not solve all your termite problems. It is a quick fix to remove

several hundred termites, often at a time. Combine this method with other fixes to deliver a more powerful punch.

2. Try beneficial nematodes.

Beneficial nematodes are small unsegmented worm species that are natural parasites to garden pests, including termites. These nematodes search for hosts, such as termite larvae, and burrow into them, usually

causing death within 48 hours. They use the host's carcass as a place to spawn.

• You can purchase beneficial nematodes at your local garden supply store or online. Currently, there are about five varieties produced for sale.

• For use in soil temperatures above 60 °F (16 °C), nematodes should be used immediately after they are purchased. If you do not use them immediately, store them in a refrigerator. Plant them in the early morning

or after sunset, as UV light will harm them.

3. Expose your wood to sunlight

If the termite-infested item is not your home but rather a piece of furniture or an item that can be removed from your home, expose it to sunlight. Termites thrive in darkness, and the heat and light from the sun will kill

them. On a sunny day, place your furniture outside for as long as possible - preferably 2-3 days.

• This method works well in conjunction with the cardboard trap method for capturing/killing the termites.

4. Freeze the termites

If you’re in a rainy area and can’t expose your furniture to sunlight, consider an alternative of freezing your furniture to kill the termites. Place your pieces (or parts of your pieces) of

wooden furniture into a large freezer for 2-3 days. Although this can be tricky for large pieces of furniture, if you’re able the freezer method should guarantee the death of the termites.

Getting Professional Help

1. Use boric acid

Boric acid is one of the most common and effective ways to dispatch of termites. In fact, it is the main insecticide used in many store-bought termite insecticides. Boric acid shuts down the termite's nervous system

while dehydrating it.

• The best way to kill termites with boric acid is to use bait stations.

• Coat or spray wood (or another cellulose material) evenly with boric acid.

• Plant the boric acid bait in the garden near your house or in an open infestation.

• Check on the bait station regularly and replenish it with boric acid as needed. You should see the termite carcasses nearby.

2. Purchase and use termite-control products

Readily available at your local hardware supply store, using termite-control products is the first step you need to take to get rid of these harmful pests. You can use termite-baiting

control methods or a liquid termite-killing product. Lay the bait near infested areas and spray the termite control product on those same areas.

3. Get a microwave spot treatment

Because heat will kill termites, you can have your home heated to a high temperature to kill them. This must be done by a professional though, as the tools required aren’t available for anyone to purchase/use. Call your local bug infestation control company, and see if this is an

option for your home.[7]. Readily available at your local hardware supply store, using termite-control products is the first step you need to take to get rid of these harmful pests. You can use termite-baiting control methods or a liquid termite-killing product. Lay the bait

near infested areas and spray the termite control product on those same areas.

4. Call a professional

f you decide that your infestation is simply too big, or the house is simply too important not to get it right the first time, you should probably call a professional extermination service.

When you call professional exterminators, be sure that you:

• Get at least three different quotes from competing firms.

• Look at the service record of the firm from the Structural Pest Control Board before you decide on employing them.

• Get a written agreement from the firm you are using insisting on complete termite extinction for two years. This may require the firm to come back periodically, check for new infestations,

and clear them away — at no cost to you.

Preventing Future Infestations

1. Maintain a dry home or apartment

Termites are naturally drawn to damp and moist habitats because they need water to survive. So make sure you ratchet up your vigilance about keeping things dry, or else termites will invade.

• Make sure all leaks and standing water, both inside and outside of your home are secured and dry. Broom away or suction up any unwanted water if possible.

• Dirty wet gutters are also an ideal home for termites, so keep your gutters free of debris for further prevention, too.

2. Use pest repellent

Adding 0.1% (approximately 1 tablespoon to a gallon) permethrin[8] to paint or wood polish or wallpaper glue while building or repainting the house will keep termites away

permanently. You can even add permethrin to the cement you use to lay flooring or the glue you use to lay wooden flooring. Since permethrin is a safe pesticide approved for human use,

there is no added risk of toxicity.

3. Keep wood off your property

Termites obviously feed heavily on wood so keep large amounts of firewood and other loose tree trunks and branches away from your home. If you maintain large amounts of wood on your property, you are only inviting a termite feast. If you must keep wood near your home,

cover it completely to keep it dry; this will minimize the attraction for the termites. If you must use wood, treat it with permethrin as above.

4. Seal any cracks in your home

By simply caulking and sealing the windows, doorways and cracks around your home, you are taking the first and important steps toward making sure that no termites invade and infest your property. Gaps around electrical wiring and pipes to and from your house are another

easy way for termites to traffic themselves into your home.

• Screens on your doors, window and porch are also a necessity if you are wary of a termite infestation.

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